Meet Sébastien Hameline | immersive production specialist, director of photography / Cameraman , filmmaker, Musician, coffee enthousiast

We had the good fortune of connecting with Sébastien Hameline and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Sébastien, we’d love to hear about how you approach risk and risk-taking
I was told a while back, “the risk in life is not to take it”.

As we grow in our careers (and our life), the type and the importance of the risks we are willing to take change. We also get more confident in taking them. And sometimes, they might be just a façade. A risk is often a question we need to ask ourself and keeps us in check with who we are inside. It is always a balance between who we are, who we want to be, and how that risk will (or might not) get us there.

I think taking risks played a big part in my life, and who I came to be. It probably is the same for everyone. There is always some choices, and degree of risk to be taken along the way. Anything worthwhile carries the inherent qualities of a risk.

I moved to LA from France right after university, did not know anybody, my English was below average, had zero professional experience in the US, and no real connections. But if I had not taken that initial step, I would not have had all the amazing opportunities I had the luck to be given.

My dad use to say “you make your own luck”. Knowing when take some risks, or not taking them is also part of “making your luck”.

Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?
I specialize in immersive live action experiences. My focus includes filming for virtual reality (VR), 360-degree, as well as dome projection, and pano-photography. Additionally, I engage in the art of photogrammetry, crafting hyper-realistic 3D models of physical objects tailored for VR, XR, AR. I am also a certified commercial drone pilot.

Given the innovative nature of these formats, my role continually adapts to project requirements. I’ve collaborated behind the scenes with prominent corporations on significant film projects, although recognition has sometimes eluded me. Yet, the significance of credit often pales in comparison to the privilege of contributing my specialized skills to these projects. The demand for what I uniquely offer has granted me these opportunities, as there are relatively few individuals who operate at my exclusive level of expertise, and have the experience to do so.

My photographic journey commenced at the age of 12, eventually leading me to Los Angeles subsequent to my studies at Sorbonne University in Paris, France. My career began within a major camera house, where I prepared camera equipment for studio films and television productions. Transitioning into the indie circuit, I embraced roles as both a DP (Director of Photography) and cameraman. The landscape of the film industry, particularly in Los Angeles, is fiercely competitive, shaped by a complex interplay of politics and economics. A realm with ambiguous rules, this industry can challenge ingrained values and ethics. Yet, the experience of collaborating on impactful projects alongside a talented team is indescribably rewarding.

Arriving in the US as a “late” immigrant at the age of 23, I lacked any family ties, previous education, or work history in the country. This made it difficult to establish a social circle upon moving to Los Angeles, essentially requiring me to build a new life from the ground up. The additional hurdle of navigating a non-native language, being French, presented its own set of social obstacles. Along the way, I encountered instances of racism, jealousy, and varying degrees of discrimination, some of which persist even today. However, these experiences didn’t deter me from progressing and concentrating on the positive aspects.

Currently, I find myself in a phase of life where I can selectively decline projects or associations that don’t align with my preferences. This ability stems from a stronger sense of self-worth and an understanding of the value I bring. This outlook on life also involves shaping opportunities through intentional choices in who and what I engage with – a concept akin to creating one’s own luck by aligning with meaningful people and projects.

A significant chapter of my journey involved a 10-year collaboration with my twin brother in a rock band. This unique experience provided life experiences that would have been unlikely elsewhere – performing at major US festivals like Outside Lands, Bonnaroo, Life is Beautiful, and even the fringes of SXSW, sharing festival line up with band like Red Hot Chili Peppers, The Killers, Muse, and getting to personally meet musicians I worship. We also had the privilege of recording in renowned studios throughout LA. Currently, I’m channeling this creative need into a personal music project on the side, to be released in the near future on all major platforms.

More recently, I’ve ventured into producing, recognizing that taking the reins empowers me to convey my own message through original content. While this path introduces its own share of challenges, I embrace them with the attitude that if not now, then when? (shameless plug: Be on the look out for Bernice Ye’s Asian Chicken Salad music video, that I recently produced with her, and who should have a Shout Out interview out some time as well!)

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
It took me a while to find my marks in LA. Interesting places that confers LA’s uniqueness are sometimes challenging to discover. But if you stay long enough, you’ll find your own LA. Everybody has their own “spots”. I recently started posting “video essays” shot on drone, short videos that depicts some areas of LA that I find inspiring.

Here is a few spots I would hit with my out of town friend, and I would probably start with the expected ones:
– Griffith Park, Hollywood sign, Venice Beach / Santa Monica, Getty Villa, Universal Studios
– I would go to LA River, maybe in Frog Town, as there are local coffee shops, Sandwicheries (Wax Paper), and can take a long walk by the border of the river bed.
– Downtown LA Art District is fun to explore, lot of local breweries and coffee shops.
– Old Pasadena has a more relaxing vibe, that kind of gives a sense of how things were years ago
– Hoy-Ka or Hae Ha Heng for the best Thai place in LA
– Pine and Crane in Silverlake (Taiwanese cuisine)
– California Chicken Café for a quick and healthy wrap or salad meal around Miracle Mile
– Tere’s (in Hollywood or Studio City) for Mexican lunch
– El Compadre for a full Mexican experience diner, with drinks, right in front of guitar center
– Sawtelle (in Westwood) has a bunch of ramen / udon places that are all very yummy, and fun businesses to just walk into.
– Morrisson in Atwater Village is an old gastro pub (but really, going on yelp at any given moment, typing gastro pub will present a load of good options)
– No Vacancy or Dirty Laundry for unique drinking experience
– The Satellite, Boardner’s, Echo / Echoplex, Teragram Room, Troubadour… To name a few for live music!
– If time allows, I would probably try to hit a national park (Joshua Tree? / Sequoia) and / or some ghost town in the desert!

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
However cliché it can sound, my shoutout is to my parents. Maybe it took me a while to figure out where I fit as a person, and value myself more fairly without the though of being arrogant or pretentious. The core values they gave me as I grew up certainly shaped me into who I am, that in itself is leading a successful life.

The people that has a meaningful impact, whatever the impact, at a professional level, change with time and so are the inspiration sources, as we have different phases during the professional journey. Otto Nemenz, and the team of people there definitely sent me on a path when I moved here.

Roger Deakins, Henri-Cartier Bresson, Jean Cocteau, Hayao Miyazaki, Wong Kar Wai for the creative inspiration (to name a few).

As my career started to focus more on the creative side, and because of the nature of the film industry, my close friends and family are the ones who get that credit. They are the ones who unconditionally believe in me, and continuously send my way the good energy.

Website: www.sebastienhameline.com

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/shameline

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/s%C3%A9bastien-hameline-30569733/

Image Credits
Sébastien Hameline Yu-ting Huang Alex Tafreshi